Just that Freddy, his girlfriend has had at least ten of them.
You're just confessing your feelings; why are you making everything so complicated?
If Finn rejects you, you can still be friends; if he doesn't reject you, then wouldn't you just happen to fall in love?
Peter stared blankly at Ned.
Is that so?
Peter was in a mess, he didn't even know what he should be thinking about anymore. Since things had already developed to this point—
He took out his phone, many messages still popped up on the screen—some from his friends, some from Finn's friends. Everyone was questioning his relationship with Finn, yet there wasn't a single message from Finn.
"I'm going to call Finn." Peter took a deep breath, as if having made a decision.
The call went through and rang for a long time, but it wasn't answered immediately as it usually was.
Hello, this is Malton." The person who answered the phone was not Finn after all. "Young Master Finn is currently in a meeting. Additionally, he asked me to convey that the New Energy Base is in a critical stage, so he will be staying here temporarily and will not be returning to New York.
"Okay, thank you." Peter's voice lowered, even his eyes dimmed.
This was the first time.. Finn had let someone else answer the phone.
[Misery Value rising, Misery Value +0.5%]
In the office of the New Energy Base, Finn's body suddenly stiffened.
—It's just not answering a single phone call, the Misery Value is already rising?
"I've replied as you requested." Malton handed the phone back to Finn.
Finn nodded with a heavy heart.
"If you don't like Peter Parker, Young Master Finn, you can completely refuse him," Malton said.
[If I refuse, won't the Misery Value directly surge to 100%?] Finn's expression became even more complicated.
"I'll think about it myself," Finn said in a low voice.
Hearing Finn say this, Malton left the office to Finn and went to handle other matters himself.
He said he wanted to think about it, but in reality, Finn wanted to have a private chat with System PP.
Is it possible that Peter doesn't actually like me?" Finn suddenly thought of a possibility. "When he called just now, could it be that he wanted to explain to me that everything online was just a misunderstanding?
System PP: 【Peter Parker likes you.】
"Why are you so sure?" Finn asked curiously.
System PP: [..] Even though I'm a system without hands, feet, or a body, I'm not blind, am I?
As a rookie system, System PP always felt that he was much more human than his host, Finn.
"PP, I'll tell you a little secret." Finn began to say coyly.
System PP was also piqued with curiosity: 【What secret?】
I actually really want to fall in love," Finn said hesitantly. "You know, I've already served one hundred Hosts. My dear Hosts can all find the person they love on their path to a face-slapping counterattack, then they can have sweet romances, they can slap the faces of those hateful fellows together, they can stick together all night long, shutting me out..
Although he was a dedicated little system, Finn had actually secretly thought to himself—
When will a sweet romance finally come my way?
I actually feel a little bit envious.
Although after completing the missions in this world, he will certainly have the chance to fall in love.
But if he really wants to start over, he'll have to wait at least another decade or so before he can even think about dating?
[Host, I suggest you just start dating Peter Parker.] System PP immediately offered assistance; wasn't there a perfect choice right in front of him?
"I cannot fall in love," Finn said firmly.
Why?" System PP couldn't help but say, "PP isn't a [Love is Death] system.
"You seem to really want me to fall in love with Peter Parker?" Finn asked, feeling a bit strange.
System PP remained silent for a moment before saying: [PP just wants to help the Host achieve his small wish. For now, Peter Parker is an excellent choice.]
“No.” Finn shook his head, his green eyes filled with seriousness, “I can't just accept Peter's affection just because I want to be in a relationship; it wouldn't be fair to him.”
He looked at his Misery Value panel—84.09%.
The Misery Value is already this high. What happens when it reaches 100%? Am I supposed to break up with Peter right when it's almost full just to make up the difference? That's too cruel; won't I just become a mere tool?
System PP: [..] This is truly tragic, but I have to say, it is indeed a shortcut for speedrunning.
Finn began to take out his phone to search—
[When a good friend has a crush on you, but you don't want to accept it, what methods should be used to ensure they aren't hurt while still maintaining the previous friendship?]
Searching and searching, Finn was not very satisfied with these answers.
PP, do you think there could be another way? I mean, a way where we date, but only for a certain period of time. A way where we can both fulfill each other's wishes through the relationship, but then discover during the relationship that we aren't actually compatible, then break up peacefully?
Finn began searching again—
[If you had a perfect boyfriend who was also your idol, you got along incredibly well, how could you break up peacefully without hurting him?]
System PP: [..] That is a truly tricky question.
“If I told Peter that it wasn't that you were bad, but that I was too insecure and felt I wasn't good enough for you, do you think he would agree to a peaceful breakup?” Finn frowned as he looked at these guides online; he didn't even know if they would actually be useful.
[System PP gave you a high five. jpg]
—Host, wake up!! If you feel inferior, no one in this world will be able to feel proud!
"Host, you told me before that our purpose in coming to this world is to execute missions and not to be misled by our own thoughts. No matter what, we must look at problems from an objective bystander's perspective. The ultimate direction of all our actions must be to achieve the mission objectives." System PP's calm electronic voice began to repeat the words Finn had previously taught it.
Finn froze, his thoughts becoming somewhat dazed even at this moment.
Host, our mission progress has reached 84.09%," System PP said. It seemed the current situation was exactly that, "We might only be one breakup with Peter Parker away from achieving the mission goal.
PP, you've changed! You weren't like this before!" Finn's pupils began to tremble. "How can your temperatureless mouth start speaking such cold words again?
Host, you are the one who has changed," System PP replied calmly. "PP only hopes the Host knows that no matter what decision the Host ultimately makes, PP will always support the Host.
Finn slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze landing blankly on Peter's name in his phone's contact list.
But, I am not.. Finn Osborn." Finn spoke softly. Within the vast, empty office, the brightness slowly faded from the handsome young man's green eyes, leaving behind a layer of misty confusion. "I only completed the mission in the identity of Finn Osborn; none of this should belong to me.
That electronic voice, which had accompanied him from beginning to end and had never been absent, still answered him in a firm tone—
What if the Finn Osborn everyone in this world knows is you?
Then why aren't you Finn Osborn?
Chapter 70: A Loud Confession
Peter was called by S. H. I. E. L. D. early in the morning to attend the first roundtable meeting held after the official establishment of the Avengers.
After all, after becoming part of the Avengers, all of their heroes now held official seats. Looking at so many seasoned superheroes from the same generation, Spider-Man sat there behaving properly, feeling a bit nervous.
Spider-Man, you've been quite famous lately.
Iron Man glanced up at him, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant teasing.
Tony Stark could see it.. that little brat from the Osborn family was truly capable of causing trouble, stealing the spotlight one scene after another, even helping the little Spider-Man before him gain skyrocketing attention as a mere high school student.
But—
And he even dares to claim to be something like a twenty-year-old Tony Stark?
How could Young Master Osborn possess any of the "playboy" charm he had in his youth?
Iron Man thought to himself that all of his former romantic interests back then were top models on various magazine covers, rather than like this kid, who would waddle around in a ridiculous hamster suit to entertain the masses and then turn around to pull that pure love routine.
But this youngster nowadays really knows how to make a scene; he can turn a simple crush into something that everyone knows about.
Spider-Man's body stiffened.
Black Widow, Hawkeye, Dr. Bruce Banner exchanged knowing glances, their lips curling into smiles simultaneously.
"What's wrong?" Captain America asked, somewhat puzzled.
No wonder, Captain, you don't pay any attention to these modern-day celebrity scandals at all." This news had naturally reached Tony's ears long ago. Stark raised an eyebrow and smiled, his teasing tone growing even stronger, "Peter Parker is quite famous now. The news that he has a crush on the Osborn Group's Young Master Osborn has long since spread everywhere; I expect only those old fossils who never go online haven't heard of it.
Captain America: ".." As if he had been pricked.
Black Widow saw that Captain America couldn't quite follow the gossip, so she thoughtfully walked over with her phone to show him the video.
Steve Rogers, who could never be left behind by the times, also immediately began to look with a rigorous and serious gaze.
Spider-Man: "?? Captain!? You didn't have to go and dig up this gossip!!"
"I told you back then, those two are not right," Stark said, looking toward Dr. Bruce Banner.
Iron Man knew his eyes were as sharp as ever.
Back then, when those two boys were hugging and making a scene in front of him, he knew something was wrong!
So, the person you thought was so cute back then was actually Finn Osborn? You really had a crush on him for a long time." Agent Coulson interjected gently, though he couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes; after all, he had quite a bit of authority on this matter. "The Young Master of the Osborn Group.. I must say, your standards are incredibly high.
"Tell me more about it." Black Widow immediately took an interest.
"Aren't we.. aren't we talking about the Avengers?" Spider-Man spoke up hurriedly, secretly feeling relieved that his mask covered his face, otherwise his reddening ears would be impossible to hide right now.
Since we're colleagues, isn't it reasonable to show some concern for the romantic life of the team's youngest member?" Black Widow rested her chin on her hand, a playful smile in her expression. Clearly, gossiping was far more interesting than the Avengers' agenda. "Come on, tell us, how are things going between you and that Young Master Osborn?
Focus of Attention · Spider-Man: ".." Everyone! Do you all remember what we came here for?
—How is it?
Peter wanted to know how it was himself! Even now, Finn hadn't sent him a single message!
I think Finn is also quite surprised," Peter said hesitantly. "He hasn't figured it out yet, I want to wait until he does.
"Think clearly? For how long? You two can even hug while getting blood drawn; you must have done this kind of thing in private plenty of times, right?" Iron Man simply couldn't understand the mindset of such pure-hearted youths.
"That's because Finn faints at the sight of blood," Spider-Man defended righteousy.
—Does he have anyone in private? It seems not, at most he's just slept with a few people.
Speaking of which, did Finn Osborn not have any romantic life before? He's good-looking, wealthy, loves to play; he enjoys socializing and has plenty of beautiful women at his parties. He's already twenty years old, so how could he not have a girlfriend?" Stark found it quite inconceivable. "If he hasn't had a girlfriend by now, then there's a high probability that he likes men.